Angus Martin, Margaret MacLeod - born Skye 1800-1810

[Verbs]

I'm looking (without much hope now) for the origins of Angus Martin and his wife Margaret MacLeod.  They first come to light in Glasgow in the 1841 census. From information in this and the 1851 census it seems that Angus and Margaret were born in Skye, Angus in about 1806 and Margaret in about 1808.  Their first two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, also seem to have been born in Skye.

Angus and Margaret and most of their surviving family emigrated to Australia in 1854, assisted by the Highlands and Islands Emigration Society.  In the HIES records, Angus gave as his place of origin the Parish of Kilmuir, and from the estate of Lord MacDonald.

Family myth has it that Margaret's home was Dunvegan Castle, and that she was the daughter or other close relation of the MacLeod of MacLeod.  This was not correct (legitimately anyway).  She may have lived in Dunvegan in a more lowly capacity, or perhaps just lived in the general area of the castle.

Where do I go from here?

[TikTokToo]

Hello Verbs,

Just a thought - have you assumed that there is only one spelling of Martin.?
If you do a free search on Scotlandspeople up to 1855 (allows one year after emigration) you will find over 90 births and over 70 marriages for Martain. I don't know if any are in Skye but it is worth a look.By pure coincidence I happen to know that there were Martains in Kilmuir, Skye in 1891 Census.
Suggest you search on Mart*n. It should pick up Martyn as well.
Good luck.
John

[Verbs]

Thanks for that thought.  I think the original Gaelic spelling was Mhartain (but I'm willing to be corrected by any Gaelic speakers out there), so even that might be worth a try.  I'll try Scotlandspeople as soon as I get a few queries organised so I can get my money's worth.

[Terance Jonathan Payne]

\macleod society publish a yearly mag, Scotish tourist board has the number for Dunvegan castle, if you ever visit the castle sigh the book, with your address and they will write to you, visit the web-site www.clanmacleod.org.
 Hope this helps.

[Shirley Sweetland]

Hi Verbs

If you go to www.bdm.nsw.gov.au you will find a death of Archibald Martin, father Angus, mother Margaret at Parramatta.
This may help with your research.

regards
Shirley
Perth WA

[Verbs]

Sorry Shirley.  I just ducked out for a couple of years.  Yes, we know about Archibald, son of Angus and Margaret.  He died in the Parramatta Asylum in 1897.  Cause of death was given as "senile decay", but he was only 56.  Not the kind of thing you want to find in your family tree.  Even worse, his sister, Margaret Jr, spent over 40 years on the Ararat Asylum in Victoria, dying there in 1931.

We know that the father, Angus, died in western Victoria and is buried at Coleraine, but we've found no record of Margaret Sr's death.  I suggest she died on a Victorian sheep station and was dropped down a hole with little ceremony and no bureaucracy.

Verbs.

[Shirley Sweetland]

OK Verbs

Yes it's a big country out there.

happy Hunting

Shirley
Perth WA